Plan announced to keep DPS students safer between home, school

It's an effort to get Detroit public schools and the neighborhoods around them to work together.  State and local leaders have a plan to keep students safer between home and the classroom.

We asked student Danetria Jones-Davis where there have ever been times when she felt unsafe coming to school?

"Actually, yes, there have been times I have felt unsafe," she said.  "Actually, this whole year I have been getting rides to school."

Thursday, the governor, the mayor and DPS emergency manager Roy Roberts announced a plan they believe will make students like Jones-Davis feel safe as they travel to and from school.

They're launching a comprehensive program that includes demolishing dangerous abandoned homes and improving others with the help of community members and partners.

The state is also launching a program called "Pathways to Potential," which will put social workers inside neighborhood schools at family resource centers.

"The reinvention of Detroit is not waiting to happen.  It is happening," said Governor Rick Snyder.

"It's about rehabilitating homes, turning the streetlights on and making sure that our children can walk to and from school safely," said Mayor Dave Bing.

The program will focus on neighborhoods surrounding nine Detroit schools chosen based on demographics and strong student and parental involvement.  J.E. Clark Preparatory Academy is one of them.

"I truly believe that if one were writing the history of Detroit public schools, today would be the first page of its most hopeful chapter," Roberts said.

"It makes me feel humble and appreciative to be able to walk around and walk to school and from school in a safe environment," said Jones-Davis.

But will the city and the state be able to effectively work together to make this program a success for the long haul?  Both Mayor Bing and Governor Snyder say yes, and with so many bright futures at stake, we hope they're right.

"Isn't this the right thing to do?  Let's just use common sense and get something done, and that's what today is," said Snyder.